Arrival

Bucharest arrival by plane

If you arrive here by plane you’re gonna land on Henri Coanda Bucharest Airport (IATA code OTP is coming from the former name Otopeni). Bucharest’s main and largest airport is located 17 km north of Bucharest. Henri Coanda Bucharest Airport is a national and international airport, with over 60 non stop travel destionations in Europe and Middle East. Also, it is conected with main aiports hubs: London, Schipol, Frankfurt, Istambul and Dubai. On Henri Coanda Airport operates 3 low cost lines: BlueAir, RyanAir and WizzAir.

You can reach the city center from aiport in 30-45 minutes by taxi or hotel shuttle and in an hour and a half by public transport – RATB Express Line 783. Also, inside the airport you can find some offices for car rentals with prices starting around 20€/day.

From Airport to Bucharest by bus

Airport is connect to city by two Express lines, 780 and 783. Express line 780 connect the airport to North Train Station (Gara de Nord) – Bucharest main train station and 783 connect it with Bucharest city center. Express bus station is in front of the arrivals terminal and leaves to the city every 30 minutes during the day, and every 40 minutes through the night. Before boarding you need to purchase a card for Express Lines which you can get it from the tickets kiosk located at the exit. The card can have between 2 and 10 journeys. The card cost is 1.6 lei and a journey is 3.5 lei. In the bus you have to validate the journey. If you travel in a group, you can buy a single card and validate for every person.

A validation in every public transport is available until you get down from it. At subway a validation is available until you exit after validation points.

From Aiport to Bucharest by taxi

If you choose to take a taxi from the airport you have to use the touch screen panels in the Arrivals hall to order a taxi. They are user friendly and you can choose from the full range of Bucharest taxi companies: all have their tariffs clearly displayed, from 1,39 lei/km to 3.9 lei/km. You have to place an order: the waiting time will be show on the screen and you’ll receive a ticket with the taxi ID. Now you can go in front of airport and wait your taxi. Make sure you get into the right car, check the company name and ID number with the one on your ticket and give the ticket to the driver. A trip to downtown should be around 40-70 lei (10 -15€, more or less depending on the traffic). If some taxi drivers offers to take you from inside the airport, be polite and refuse them.

Bucharest arrival by train

Another main gateway to Bucharest is Gara de Nord (North Railway Station), the main railway station of the city. You can visit interrail.eu for schedules of international trains and more informations about travel by train in Europe.

To get to downtown from here you can take the subway (two stops till Piata Victoriei and here you will have to change with the subway line M1, another 2 stops to Piata Universitatii or 3 to Piata Unirii).

As bus alternatives from here you have RATB line 123 for link to Piata Unirii, 178 line – Piata Revolutiei, trolleybus 85 line for Piata Universitatii, 79 and 86 trolleybuses for Piata Romana, you need to buy a card with credit from the kiosk next to the bus station.
There are also taxis outside the train station, but most of them here are not relliable and it is best to avoid them, so my personal recommendation is to use the subway, it is fast, safe and you avoid the traffic at the surface.